Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard has set his sights on Royal Ascot with Daryz after the horse made a flawless start to the season with a win in the Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp. Daryz, the son of Sea The Stars, had shown immense potential with four consecutive wins in his debut season last year. Although he faced setbacks in the Juddmonte International at York and his subsequent start in France, he rebounded with a thrilling victory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October.
As the favorite to win the extended 10-furlong Group One, Daryz delivered a commanding performance, traveling powerfully throughout and sealing victory with ease when prompted by jockey Mickael Barzalona. Bright Picture and Aventure secured second and third place, respectively. Nemone Routh, manager for Daryz's owners, the Aga Khan Studs in France, expressed satisfaction with the win, stating, "We're obviously very happy with that for his seasonal debut - he was suitably impressive.
We always hoped this was as good as he is, and he will probably come on for that race - he's still got a bit more improvement to come, I think, this year." Routh emphasized Daryz's exceptional quality, adding, "He's a very special horse, and that's why we kept him in training as we wanted to prove to everyone his win in the Arc wasn't a flash in the pan." Following the win, Coral adjusted Daryz's odds to 5-1 from 10-1 to defend his Arc title. The horse's connections have outlined a series of top-level targets, including the Prix Aga Khan IV, which will serve as a stepping stone to the Prince of Wales's Stakes in June.
According to Routh, "I think we're going to drop him back even further now as he's going to go for the Prix Aga Khan IV, which is over nine and a half furlongs, so it's even a bit sharper than today. We would not have any fear of that, as he's a horse who loves a fast pace in a race - he's actually at his happiest when he can stride out, and anyone that rides him says he gives you a feeling that he can follow any pace. We hope he'll be fine dropping back even further, and it's just a very good prep as it falls at the right time for getting him to the Prince of Wales's Stakes."